Join 3000+ Hashimoto's & Hypothyroid Warriors learning to live again with topics including eating for thyroid health, medication optimisation, weight loss with hypothyroidism, getting support from your doctor and lots lots more ...
What Doctors Don’t Always Tell You About Thyroid & Seasons
|
Hi Beautiful! As I was out earlier, I noticed the first daffodils and crocuses starting to peek through the soil. The air was mild, the sky was clear, and for the first time in months, it felt like winter was finally loosening its grip. For those of us with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s, this shift in seasons can feel like a real turning point. Winter can be especially tough when your thyroid isn’t functioning optimally. Low thyroid levels can make it incredibly hard to stay warm, and for some, it’s almost like falling into a state of semi-hibernation—exhausted, sluggish, unable to generate enough heat to feel comfortable. Before I was on the right treatment, winter used to hit me SO hard. !! I remember sitting in bed with hot water bottles and blankets, feeling like my body just couldn’t keep up with the cold. Even stepping outside felt like a battle to stay awake and functional. Back then, I had just met my now husband and he frequently had to look after me and get me back home as I lapsed into lite hypothermia on an evening out. 🥶 He must have wondered what he was getting into, poor man! The reason for this? Our bodies naturally need more thyroid hormone in the colder months to generate heat and maintain body temperature—a process called thermogenesis. If our thyroid were working as it should, it would naturally adjust hormone production and ramp it up in the winter... But for those of us on medication, those levels stay the same all year round, which means winter can hit harder, bringing on more fatigue, weight gain, and sluggishness. And then there’s summer—the other extreme. Just as we struggle to stay warm, many of us also struggle to cool down. If you’ve ever found yourself wiped out by the heat, unable to regulate your body temperature, or just feeling completely drained in warm weather, you’re not alone. This is why spring and autumn tend to be our seasons. They bring relief, balance, and the chance to feel a little more like ourselves again.
Key Takeaways: ❄️ Many thyroid patients struggle in winter because the body naturally needs more thyroid hormone to generate warmth—but medication doesn’t adjust to seasonal changes. 🥶 Feeling colder, more tired, and even gaining weight in winter can be signs that your thyroid treatment isn’t quite meeting your needs. 🌞 Summer can also be challenging due to issues with temperature regulation, making both extreme cold and extreme heat difficult to manage. What Can You Do? ✅ Tune into your body – If winter exhaustion hits you hard every year, it could be worth discussing your thyroid levels with your doctor. Some people need small seasonal adjustments to their medication. ✅ Support your body naturally – Warm layers, heated blankets, and gentle movement can help in winter. In summer, hydration, shade, and cooling strategies (like a cold compress on your neck) can make a difference. ✅ Plan ahead – If hot weather drains you, think about how to manage summer trips or even how to adapt your daily routine when the temperature rises. And most importantly—remember that spring is just around the corner when the clocks spring forward this weekend!! Hooray! If winter has been tough, know that brighter, easier days are ahead. Sometimes, just seeing those first daffodils can be a reminder that things won’t always feel as hard as they do in the moment. With love, Join the my free group to share ideas with others who understand. PLEASE NOTE - I am NOT a Doctor or Medical Professional of any kind. |
HypoThrive With Helen
Join 3000+ Hashimoto's & Hypothyroid Warriors learning to live again with topics including eating for thyroid health, medication optimisation, weight loss with hypothyroidism, getting support from your doctor and lots lots more ...
Hi Beautiful! You know what really lights a fire under me? When people are told there's nothing they can do about their autoimmune thyroid condition, Hashimoto's “Just take the tablets,” they’re told. “Diet won’t make a difference. Just accept it” I’ve been saying for years that this simply isn’t true—and now, I’ve got some solid research to back it up. 👉 A new study looked at how ancestral or ‘paleo / primal-style’ diets impact autoimmune thyroid disease… and the results were pretty amazing....
Hi Beautiful!, This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 17-23, 2025), and there's something I've noticed in our community that I think deserves more attention. I ran a poll in our Facebook group a while back asking about whether members were either diagnosed or thought they were on the neurodiversity spectrum. Amazingly 61% of those responding either have a diagnosis or suspect they might have ADHD, autism, or both. That's not a coincidence, and today I want to talk about why. PLUS...
Hi, I saw something in another thyroid support group today that broke my heart. A woman shared how she'd been following one of those big brand weight loss memberships religiously - tracking every point, attending every meeting, doing EVERYTHING right... And when she went for her weigh-in? She'd gained weight. The comments were filled with similar stories. Women blaming themselves, feeling like failures, wondering what they were doing wrong. So I need to tell you something important: It's not...